Barkley ready for Gloucester bow

England star Olly Barkley will make his Gloucester debut tomorrow, admitting: "It has been a long time coming.

Barkley lines up alongside fellow international Mike Tindall in midfield as Gloucester look to end Harlequins' unbeaten Premiership start.

Barkley joined the Cherry and Whites on a two-year contract from Bath during the summer, but his first-team entry has been delayed by a fractured wrist.

He said: "My rehabilitation has gone really well, and now I just want to concentrate on contributing for my new club.

"Harlequins have made an excellent start to the season, and we obviously appreciate their threat, but after last week's performance and result (against Bath) we are confident we can recreate that and build on it this weekend.

"I am just delighted to be involved in the side - it has been a long time coming."

Gloucester boss Dean Ryan is fully aware of the Kingsholm threat posed by Quins, the only Premiership team so far this season to have collected a try-scoring bonus point.

Ryan said: "Harlequins have been playing at a high tempo and they have won well twice.

"They are attack-minded and are very dangerous when play breaks up, but I think we have taken on our game following the defeat against Leicester (two weeks ago) and have looked at things pretty objectively.

"We are a pretty free-flowing side, but you can be challenged by playing too much rugby, and we have to manage that.

"Last Saturday against Bath was much more of an illustration of what we have been working on."

Worcester will be watched by a record Sixways crowd of more than 10,500 tomorrow when they look to claim Leicester's scalp just six days after toppling Premiership champions Wasps.